New Zealand Herald - Television industry

Great news for kiwi basketball fans, with confirmation today that the New Zealand Breakers have signed Tall Black Kirk Penney.

The former NBA player's signed a one year contract with the Auckland- based franchise, for the 2007-08 season.

The Breakers have been courting Penney for the last year, to help bolster their local roster as the team looks to make a mark on the Australian NBL competition.

Penney's three point ability will come in handy, especially with the retirement of Aaron Olsen. The twenty six year old guard's one of only two kiwis to have played in the NBA, and is coming home after eight seasons overseas.

The Breakers were also chasing Wellington-born centre Craig Bradshaw, but lost out to current NBL champions the Brisbane Bullets, despite apparently offering him more money.

I used to be an avid following of the Breakers, but gave up a bit after the brilliant Lindsay Tait departed.

However, Penney's signing is a great move by the Breakers, and along with the news that the games will be on free-to-air TV (Maori TV), local fans like myself will have a lot more to cheer about over the next season (and a local star that isn't Paul Henare ;-)

Penney will make his debut in the #6 singlet for the Breakers on September 20th, in their home season opener against the Cairns Taipans.